Monday, September 30, 2019

LOOKING AT THE PRINCIPLES OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

â€Å" Corporate Administration is the system by which concern corporations are directed and controlled. The corporate administration construction specifies the distribution of rights and duties among different participants in the corporation, such as, the board, directors, stockholders and other stakeholders, and spells out regulations and processs for doing determinations on corporate personal businesss. By making this it besides provides the construction through which the company aims are set, and the agencies of achieving those aims and supervising public presentation. † â€Å" Corporate Administration can be described as a system of structuring, operating, and commanding a company with a position to accomplish long term strategic ends to fulfill stockholders, creditors, employees, clients, and providers with the legal and regulative demands, apart from run intoing environmental and local community demands. It leads to the edifice of a legal, commercial and institutional model. It besides demarcates the boundaries within which these maps are to be performed. †Need FOR CORPORATE GOVERNANCEAs we all know that in today ‘s scenario market forces are progressively replacing authorities controls, corporate administration is deriving prominence in a concern industry. Today corporate administration can be seen as a requirement for pulling financess from foreign establishments. Investors these yearss make certain that the company in which they are puting their principal is non merely decently managed but besides follow corporate administration. I t is regarded as a control mechanism that ensures the optimal usage of human, physical and fiscal resources for an endeavor. It addresses assorted issues faced by board of managers, top direction, proprietors, stakeholders and the society at big. Corporate administration patterns are a set of structural agreements that emerge in free market economic systems to aline the direction of companies with the involvement of their stockholders, stakeholders and the society at big. Corporate administration aims to turn to three basic issues: Ethical Issues Efficiency Issues Accountability Issues Ethical Issues as the name suggests relates to the job of moralss in concern. Corporations employ deceitful agencies to accomplish their goals.In order to exercise force per unit area on the authorities to explicate public policies the companies form trusts which frequently go against the involvement of the populace. Companies in order to derive trueness from clients may give payoffs or offer gifts to possible clients. Efficiency Issues are concerned with the public presentation of the direction. Management is responsible for guaranting sensible returns on investing made by stockholders. The issues associating to efficiency of direction is of involvement to the stockholders as their return on investing is at interest. Accountability Issues relate to the stockholders need for transparence of direction in the behavior of the concern. Features of corporate administration: Discipline Transparency Independence Accountability Duty Fairness Social ResponsibilityPRINCIPLES OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:Rights and just intervention of stockholders: Organizations should esteem the rights of stockholders and in bend encourage stockholders to exert their rights. They can assist stockholders exert their rights by efficaciously pass oning information which is in an apprehensible signifier to them and promoting stockholders to take part actively in general meetings. Interests of other stakeholders: Organizations should acknowledge that they have legal and other duties towards all legitimate stakeholders such as the creditors, providers, employees etc. Disclosure and transparence: Organizations should clear up and do publically known all the facts and findings so as to supply stockholders with a degree of answerability. They should besides implement policies and processs to verify and safeguard the unity of the company ‘s fiscal studies. Disclosure of material facts refering the organisation should be seasonably and balanced to guarantee that all investors have entree to unclutter, factual information. Functions and duties of board: The board needs a batch of accomplishments and understanding to be able to cover with assorted ethical issues. It needs to hold a degree of committedness to carry through its duties and responsibilities. There are issues about the appropriate mix of executive and non-executive managers within a company. Integrity and ethical behavior: Ethical and responsible determination devising is non merely of import for public dealingss, but it is besides an of import component in hazard direction. Organizations should raise a codification of behavior for their managers and top direction that promotes ethical and responsible determination devising at all degrees of the organisation. Many organisations have besides establishedA Compliance and Ethics ProgramsA to minimise the hazard that the house goes against the ethical and legal boundaries.Issues affecting corporate administration include:internal controls and internal audits regulations sing readying of the company ‘s fiscal statements dividendA policy the independency of the entity ‘s external hearers and the quality of their audits efficient usage of resources made available to managers in transporting out their duties direction of hazard reappraisal of the compensation for the main executive officer and other senior executives the procedure of nominations of persons for places on the boardCASES ON CORPORATE Administration:Corporate GOVERNANCE AT THE BODY SHOPIntroduction:Anita Roddick is the laminitis of The Body Shop. She is one of the celebrated personalities who is engaged in Ethical Consumerism. She is actively involved in runs for environmental and societal issues including the runs such as Greenpeace and the Big Issue ( 2007 ) , Hepatitis C. She is an enthusiastic individual who takes an initial duty to do a vision to go a success and is a positive mind and an first-class determination shaper. The Body Shop is a world-wide known British concatenation of cosmetics shops. It was taken over by Gallic Cosmetics group L'Oreal in 2006. The Body Shop is distinguished for selling its ain line of merchandises which are produced in an eco friendly mode and are non tested on animate beings. The Body Shop considers the construct of corporate administration as their competitory advantage. Anita Roddick who is the caput of the determination doing organic structure of the company creates a value system non merely in selling its merchandises but besides in keeping a important relationship with all its stakeholders. The company has established a decently structured model in order to cover with corporate affairs. It has established a proper structured plan which is reinforced by company policies and other processs for proper counsel of the managers in transporting out their day-to-day responsibilities. The company has a clear mention usher to its concern operations and corporate administrat ion. This includes the care of the criterions with regard to the corporate administration in the corporation ‘s different sectors. The Board of the company consists of 10 managers out of which two are executive while six are non executive due to which there is a just division of duties among them. The board is in charge of taking attention of the company ‘s operations, assets, and its stockholders with a position of maximising public presentation. The Board conducts a monthly reappraisal of the company ‘s concerns in relation to its fiscal motions in order to guarantee the house ‘s competent operations. The company jurisprudence obliges the board of managers to carefully fix each twelvemonth, a fiscal study that needs to be accurate and dependable reflecting the true province of the company. The Board of Directors are besides responsible for the proper guardianship of accounting statements and guarantee that these records are precise and true. It is besides vested with the duty of safeguarding the company ‘s other assets every bit good as doing the necessary stairss in order to forestall complications such as fraud and other types of hazards. Apart from the board there are other commissions which are formed which have a well-established mention usher which besides discusses their responsibilities and their range of authorization within the corporation. The wage commission handles the lineation for the company ‘s wage policy which would be reviewed by the board. Furthermore, this group is besides responsible for the assorted wage bundles that are offered to the executive managers. The audit commission makes proper recommendations with respects to the company ‘s accounting policies every bit good as supervising fiscal control within the corporation. The company besides has a clear codification of moralss and all employees must conform to this codification. The codification of moralss includes a struggle of involvement policy to guarantee that cardinal corporate determinations are taken by persons who do non hold a fiscal involvement in the result separate from their involvement as company functionaries. The comp any besides proctors conformity with the jurisprudence and the planetary fiscal policies and patterns in the country of internal controls, fiscal accounting and coverage, fiducial answerability and safeguarding of corporate assets.Effects OF PRACTICING CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AT THE BODY SHOPWith respect to the entrepreneurship patterns followed by Anita Roddick, the company has been able to accomplish complete control of all the affairs refering the company and its stakeholders. The ego doggedness and duty to the responsibilities by all the employees of the company and their obeisance to the company Torahs and ordinances all of which have contributed to the development of the corporation as a whole. The Board has changeless belief in the fact that that all the informations pertaining to the fiscal information and other facts sing their operations that are presently being practiced are dependable. The authorization of the Board is clearly recognized within the company because of which it is able to hold a solid clasp on the corporation ‘s existent operations, stakeholders and its fiscal concerns. The well defined construction of the organisation and the committedness of the board towards the stakeholders and the community has proved the fact that the organisation can manage both its ethical and legal duties expeditiously. The company maintains good dealingss and unfastened communications with its investors. The stockholders are on a regular basis invited by the company on a regular footing to discourse trade updates. Furthermore, in one-year general meetings investors besides get an chance to run into the Board members. Private investors can entree the company ‘s web site for assorted services. The company has a good consideration for all its stakeholders be it past, present, or hereafter. There seems to be a really good defined model in the house ‘s corporate division. It has policies and processs with respect to fiscal affairs and operational concerns. Its processs for measuring different sorts of state of affairss that come up is surely good defined. Furthermore, they have ever maintained good dealingss with their stakeholders. And eventually, The Board ‘s authorization has ever remained unexcelled. Clearly, the above mentioned points turn out the strength of the company ‘s corporate administration construction. The failing of this instance is the fact that one can non ever be assured that there are no losingss or other mistakes which may ensue from errors and incompatibilities by one of the commissions or employees involved. In add-on, due to the presence of diverse cultural beliefs there can be internal jobs between the members. There are times when the stockholder is non given adequate information about the position of the company, particularly if that stockholder which holds a little portion in the concern. This happens when the board of managers do non supply value to their stockholders. Other negative facet includes the restriction of fiscal coverage processs which may decidedly ensue in uneffective corporate governance.AEthical motive AT THE BODY SHOPMotto: â€Å" Nature ‘s manner to Beautiful † Body store has invariably sought out fantastic natural ingredients from all across its Earth and strives to protect this beautiful planet and the people who depend on it. The Body Shop believes that concern has the power to do the right sort of difference to the universe. This rule allows all clients round the Earth to go militants The first cosmetics company to beginning harvested palm oil and present the ingredient into the beauty industry, working in partnership with a certified organic manufacturer in Colombia, in 2007. In 2008 debut of 100 % PCR bottles ( post consumer recycled ) Community Trade plan creates sustainable merchandising relationships with deprived communities around the Earth and provides indispensable income to more than 25,000 people. The Body Shop continues to raise consciousness and support for adult females across the universe affected by domestic force in 2008. Launch of Stop Violence In The Home run runs in more than 55 states and has raised more than US $ 4 million. In 2008campaign to raise consciousness of HIV and AIDS among immature people, working with MTV Networks International was carried on. The Body Shop has committed to go Carbon Neutral by 2010, guaranting that C dioxide emanations from the company ‘s nucleus retail concern worldwide are reduced to a big extent. The Company is committed to merchandising ethically. The sourcing squad is trained in ethical audits and trade with providers who abide by the Code of Conduct for Suppliers.Corporate GOVERNANCE AT NESTLENestle is committed to the following Business Principles in assorted states it operates in, taking into history all the local statute laws predominating within that peculiar state, cultural and spiritual patterns: Nestle ‘s concern aims, and that of direction and employees at all degrees, is fabricating and marketing the Company ‘s merchandises in such a manner so as to make value that can be sustained over the long term for stockholders, employees, consumers, concern spouses and all the other stakeholders. Nestle does n't prefer short-run net income at the disbursal of successful long-run concern development, but recognizes the demand to make healthy net income every twelvemonth in order to keep the support of our stockholders, maintain them content, and the fiscal markets, and to finance investings. Nestle recognizes that its consumers have a sincere and legitimate involvement in the behaviour, beliefs and actions of the Company behind trade names in which they have their trust, and that without its consumers the Company would non hold come into being. Nestle believes that statute law is most effectual precaution of responsible behavior. Nestle is witting of the fact that the success of a company is a contemplation of the professionalism, behavior and the responsible attitude of its direction and the employees working in that company. Therefore, enlisting of the right people at the right clip and preparation and development are the critical factors in any company ‘s success. Nestle operates in assorted states and in many civilizations throughout the universe. The rich diverseness is a really valuable beginning for a company ‘s direction.National Legislations and International RecommendationsNestle emphasizes that its employees must stay by the Torahs applicable in the states in which it operates. Nestle ensures that the highest criterions of responsible behavior towards its client and the society are met throughout the organisation, by following with the Nestle Corporate Business Principles, which guides the Company ‘s activities and relationships worldwide in each sector of concern involvement. The company supports and widely advocates the United Nations Global Compact and its 10 rules, an enterprise of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Global Compact asks the companies to take up, support and enact, within their domain of influence, a set of nucleus values in the countries of human rights, the international labor criterions and the environment. The company besides recognizes the fact that increasing globalisation is taking to the development of more and more international recommendations. Although, as a regulation, these recommendations are addressed to authoritiess, they doubtless impact the concern patterns. Among others, Nestle has incorporated relevant International Labour Organization Conventions, and the International ( WHO ) Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes into its policies. Nestle endorses relevant committednesss and recommendations for voluntary self-regulation issued by competent companies in the same sector, provided they have been developed in full audience with the parties concerned. These include the International Chamber of Commerce ( ICC ) Business Charter for Sustainable Development. Besides, Nestle uses the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, approved in June 2000, as a mention point for its Corporate Business Principles.Corporate GOVERNANCE FAILURESWORLDCOM BANKRUPCYWorldCom the universe ‘s 2nd largest telecommunication company had filed for bankruptcy in the twelvemonth 2002 in Manhattan after the revelation of monolithic accounting abnormalities. The divergences from corporate behavior happened because of the Board of managers who failed to acknowledge, and to cover efficaciously with, maltreatments reflecting what was identified as a â€Å" civilization of greed † within the corporation ‘s top direction. Others resulted from a failure of responsible individuals within the company to carry through their fiducial duties to stockholders. Another lending factor was a deficiency of transparence between senior direction and the Company ‘s Board of Directors. There was a complete dislocation of corporate administration. The cheques and balances intended to forestall error and abnormalities failed to run. The cheques did n't balance and the balances did n't fit. The existent fraud which took topographic point in WorldCom consisted of a figure of â€Å" topside accommodations † to accounting entries to shore up up worsening net incomes. Largely these comprised of improper drawdowns of militias accumulated from its acquisition plan and other beginnings and improper capitalisation of costs which should hold been expensed for. While WorldCom has non completed the restatement of its financials, the company overstated its income by about $ 11 billion, overstated its balance sheet by about $ 75 billion and, as a consequence, caused losingss in the stockholder value of every bit much as $ 250 billion, a important sum of which affected the employee retirement financess. During the 1990s, favourable market positions of WorldCom was sustained by a series of acquisitions. The company was in an almost-constant acquisition during this period. This generated great force per unit area to maintain the stock monetary values high in order to fuel the acquisition fling and to supply moneymaking cash-outs for executive stock options. To make this, the company had to run into Wall Street ‘s net incomes outlooks, but when, in 2000, a proposed amalgamation with Sprint was disapproved by the authorities and the telecommunications roar came to an terminal, WorldCom net incomes began to steal. Management foremost sought to use its aggressive accounting techniques to better its gnawing fiscal image. But when these were exhausted, the direction resorted to false entries to bring forth what could portray as echt net incomes and enable them to do the Numberss and sustain the image of a company go oning to run into Wall Street ‘s net incomes marks. As a conseq uence, during the last 13 quarters prior to bankruptcy, the Company systematically reported that it met those marks, but the fact was it missed them in 11 out of 13 of those quarters and, in the last four quarters, really should hold reported losingss. The balloon eventually collapsed in 2002 when internal hearers eventually fingered significant impropernesss and the top functionaries were fired or resigned, net incomes were restated, SEC and condemnable probes had been initiated which resulted in bankruptcy. The company ‘s attack to trades was wholly adhoc and with small meaningful or consistent strategic planning. The board used to O.K. billion dollar trades with no treatment or really less treatments. WorldCom direction or the Board of Directors ne'er even bothered to supervise the Company ‘s debt degree and its ability to fulfill its outstanding duties. WorldCom ‘s issue of more than $ 25 billion in debt securities in the four old ages predating its bankruptcy was clearly facilitated by its immense accounting fraud which allowed it to falsely stand for itself as creditworthy. The Board once more passively used to acquire the proposals approved through consentaneous consent declarations which were adopted with really small or no treatment. The compensation commission of the Board agreed to supply tremendous loans and a separate guarantee for Mr. Ebbers ( manager ) without ab initio informing the full Board or taking appropriate stairss to protect the Company. The Board was besides considered at mistake for non raising any inquiries about the loans following, without meaningful consideration, the recommendations of the compensation commission. Another ground was the absence of internal controls as a cause of this fiasco was the deficiency of transparence between senior direction and the Board of Directors at WorldCom. A civilization and internal procedures that discourage or forbid scrutiny and comprehensive inquiring are engendering evidences for deceitful misbehaviors. In conformity with the accounting abnormalities, these defects created the semblance that WorldCom was far more healthy and successful than it really was. The audit commission of the Board failed to invent a work program with the internal hearers and the outside comptrollers. The internal audit operation within the company was intentionally diverted off from scrutinizing duties and forced to concentrate upon increased efficiencies and cost film editing alternatively of internal policy framing. Furthermore, it was short-handed, underpaid and under-qualified for transporting out a responsible internal audit map. The company unsuitably styled some $ 20 billion deserving duties by its subordinates to itself as alleged â€Å" royalties † for what WorldCom designated as â€Å" direction foresight † that is, the subordinates were supposed to hold the advantage of WorldCom ‘s â€Å" direction foresight † for which they would pay a fine-looking fee. These â€Å" royalty † sums were accounted in a manner that drastically reduced the nonexempt income of certain WorldCom subordinates for province revenue enhancement intents. However, these sums, while they were accrued, were ne'er really paid to WorldCom.Reasons for prostration:Non conformity to Serbanes-Oxley Act Board lacked sufficient information to carry through its duties. WorldCom ‘s civilization was non by and large supportive of a strong legal map which prevented advocate from run intoing their duties to their corporate clients. Improperly aggressive accounting schemes were proposed by direction. With its ain overambitious schemes and flawed accounting, WorldCom besides fell victim to a oversupply of telecommunications capacity. Cheap and plentiful funding allowed companies quickly to construct transcontinental and transoceanic fibre ocular webs in the 1990 ‘s. The extra capacity resulted in lower monetary values for WorldCom ‘s services, which include phone service and the transmittal of Internet informations for immense companies. The filing for bankruptcy would alleviate WorldCom of approximately $ 2 billion of involvement payments in the coming following twelvemonth. Lower debt costs allowed WorldCom to vie on a stronger bridgehead with its challengers, affecting a likely price-cutting policy refering about the wider strength of the telecommunications industry. In April 2004, WorldCom emerged from bankruptcy and changed its name to MCI, which it acquired in 1998. Ironically, holding shed $ 36 billion in debt, WorldCom emerged from bankruptcy with a improved balance sheet than most of its rivals. It besides wound up with a corporate name respected for its radical attempts in telecom.A Corporate GOVERNANCE FAILURE AT ENRON On December 2, 2001 Enron, the so 7th largest corporation in US had filed for bankruptcy. It resulted in one million millions of dollars being lost, 1000s of people losing their occupations, and a big sum of employee ‘s retirement nest eggs had been wiped out. Billions of U.S. dollars had been concealed in the balance sheet of the company which had overstated its income by $ 600 million. The public presentation inducements created a clime where employees were required to bring forth net income at the disbursal of the company ‘s declared criterions of moralss and strategic ends. Enron had all the constructions and mechanisms for working towards good corporate administration. In add-on, it had besides framed a policy for corporate societal duty and a sensible codification of behavior on security, human rights, societal investing and public battle. Yet the job occurred as no 1 followed the codification. Impact on the Company ‘s Finance: Decreasing investor assurance ( negative ) Retreat to simpleness & A ; easy to understand theoretical accounts ( positive and negative ) . Increased call for corporate transparence ( positive ) . Review of hearer and adviser relationships ( positive and negative ) . Tax return to financial conservativism and patterns ( positive and negative ) Name for increased ordinance and examination ( positive and negative ) . Political radioactive dust on all degrees ( negative ) . The Board was found to hold failed in its responsibilities in the undermentioned countries: Fiduciary failure Bad accounting Inappropriate struggles of involvement Extensive undisclosed off the books activities Excessive compensation to the managers Lack of independency The job started off when the board of managers allowed the direction openly to go against the codification, peculiarly when it allowed the CFO to function in the particular purpose entities ( SPEs ) and besides the audit commission suspected false accounting patterns but still it made no effort to analyze the SPE minutess. So the hearers failed to forestall questionable accounting. Failure of Enron resulted as a consequence of a struggle of involvements that occurred the directors to move at the disbursal of the stockholders. Internal control steps besides failed to work. The action taken by Enron made a false visual aspect by misdirecting the market by demoing greater creditworthiness and fiscal stableness. Even after Enron ‘s failure the market for barters and derived functions worked without any breaks and worked as expected. The market did what it was expected to make i.e. to utilize repute as a agency for supervising market participants. Hearers failed because of non keeping their unity and independency in their working. The hearers commission had to proactively map and supervise the determinations to guarantee that a realistic position is presented to the users of the fiscal statements of the company. Enron created partnerships with nominally independent companies, some of which were offshore. This was fundamentally done to befog debt exposure and allegedly to cover losingss at Enron ‘s entity. Enron ‘s board members were misinformed and mislead. The significant information about Enron ‘s programs and activities were hidden from the board. The board had nevertheless failed in its oversight responsibilities. High hazard accounting policies were being followed. The company was found to be in non conformity of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Enron ‘s multi-billion dollar, off-the-books activity was disclosed to the Enron Board members and received Board blessing as an expressed scheme to better Enron ‘s fiscal statements. In fact, Enron ‘s monolithic off the books activity could non hold taken topographic point without Board action to set up new particular purpose entities, issue preferred Enron portions, and pledge Enron stock as the collateral needed for the trades to travel frontward. In the terminal, the Board knowingly allowed Enron to travel at least $ 27 billion or about 50 per centum of its assets off balance sheet. Enron ‘s board failed in its fiducial responsibility to guarantee equal public revelation of its assets and liabilities. None of the board members objected to this corporate scheme. Enron provided its executives with unreasonable munificent compensation. Stock options were distributed to all the executives in big Numberss. It was argued that the company used to make this in order to pull and retain the good executives.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Individual’s knowledge of cats Essay

An individual’s knowledge about cats may come from many different places. The basics for someone’s knowledge about cats may have started when they were a child. If they had a bad experience with a cat then they might claim to â€Å"know† that all cats are mean. This could make them believe that cats are mean even though they only had one experience. If they had a cat of their own and loved it very much then they might claim to â€Å"know† that cats are lovable creatures. Another example of us constructing our knowledge of cats is by how we choose our religion. If I decide to worship cats then to me I â€Å"know† that cats are holy. This also brings up the debate that religion is not only a personal choice but also a type of definition. If my religion tells me that cats are holy then that is acquired knowledge and then I am simply recognizing it to be knowledge. Other definitions about cats are scientific experiments that people on them. If cats are proven to have a certain disease then people could say the cats carry disease and be making a valid knowledge claim. This shows that knowledge about cats is neither totally constructed by us nor completely acquired. You can never know everything about cats because experiences, new discoveries, and different emotions can cause you to â€Å"know† something new about them. It shows that depending on the experiences we have and how we perceive information can affect what we think we know about cats. What I know about cats maybe be different from someone else. This is not necessarily because I know more or less than someone else does but I might have a different perception of the cats than someone else does. Sometimes people have a bad experience once and then use that experience to block out any other knowledge. No matter how irrational that may be, people can convince themselves that because they had a bad experience, it means all cats are bad. When this happens, people can forget to look at all the ways of knowing something. They could stop believing in their religion or deny scientifically proven facts. In this regard we choose what our knowledge is, even if there is more information that could be considered. It also works in the opposite direction. People could choose to be completely scientific about cats and block out any knowledge having to do with emotion or experiences having to do with cats. Either of these ways of thinking changes what people think they know but it also shows how by talking to someone about cats does not necessarily give you facts about cats. It only gives you the perception of cats from the other person. Unfortunately, most information about cats comes from either something people have written or from inside someone’s head. Therefor it is up to us to decide what we believe to be knowledge and what to be opinion.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Case Study Of Airbus for Supply Chain Management Free Solution

The aerospace industry has recorded a consecutive increase in the sales continuously from last three years. Supply chain management is becoming the key element for the development of the aviation industry (Gopalakrishnan et al. 2012). The complexities and risk factors mainly lie in the section of supply and management of the company. This report is made to focus on the importance of supply chain management in an organization for its smooth and reliable operation. In consideration of the globally established value chain analysis among the aerospace industry involves the completion of the customer requirements. There is no violation of this aspect in case of the Airbus. The production network is combing several factors: functions of the suppliers, transporters, retailers, manufacturers, etc. Airbus is focusing on the wide process of outsourcing. This aspect is totally related to the supply chain management of the organization (Khajavi, Partanen and Holmstrom 2014). The example of value chain analysis can be explained by: Airbus and Boeing together has introduced B787 and A350XWB, which involves more complex work packages in comparison with the previous programs, though it is used to reduce the time and cost involved. The supply chain management is totally dependent on the working culture of the stakeholders of any organization. Airbus also provides importance to their employees for managing the value chain within the industry (Martinez-Jurado and Moyano-Fuentes 2014). The strategically involved suppliers and other stakeholders of the Airbus first examine the subsystems and crucial parts of the organization, this aspect builds good relationship with the suppliers, customers and the employees of the organization. Airbus launched packages according to the risk shared with the suppliers. The losses considered for the suppliers or external people involved in the organization are added with the cost involved in manufacturing the product or services. This aspect makes the suppliers more responsible with their work that involves the setting up of packages, and improvement of the scope of the work, etc. (Mena, Humphries and Choi 2013). The improvement of the working culture in Airbus, the management adds new programs for involving the experienced suppliers for getting better production. Airbus organization has taken up new initiatives to increase their supply chain resilience. In this organization, the supply chain process is quite complex, and disruption occurs due to resource constrains, quality and communication issues, environmental events and supplier's insolvency. From the following statistical graph, these illustrations can be better understood. (Source: Liu, Kasturiratne and Moser 2012, pp-585) The strategy management process of Airbus organization is as follows Figure 2: Supply Chain Management of Airbus (Source: Golicic and Davis 2012, pp-730) The major actors of Airbus' management process are suppliers, manufacturers, transporters, retailers, and customers. In the research and development center, the manufacturers use raw materials to produce the best quality of aircraft products to the customers (Aung and Chang 2014). The first tier suppliers assemble the major parts of the system such as engines, interior, gear, and avionics. The second level suppliers deliver the manufactured products. Whereas, the third level suppliers perform specific operations of the aircraft system. After analyzing the supply chain management of the Airbus organization, it can be stated that outsourcing of aircraft parts is not at all a cost effective way. In addition, outside manufacturers are not concerned to enforce security standards which can reduce the competitive strength of this organization in the global market. Therefore, a new supply chain management is proposed in the following section which can help for reliable and smooth operations. Figure 3: New Supply Chain Management for Airbus (Source: Fayezi, O'Loughlin and Zutshi 2012, pp-568) The above supply chain management model is the best-fitted option for Airbus Company, which not only manufactures the best quality of products but also streamline the entire system to reduce operational cost, to enhance the quality and to speed up the aerospace operations. Customer Relationship Management: This helps to manage to establish a healthy relationship with the customers by maintaining it with loyalty. Through this, the management authorities will be able to target and prioritize the best customers and their needs (Liu et al. 2014). This contributes to making perfect performance report to measure the profitability of the customers and financial impacts of the organization. Customer Service Management: Through this, real and single time of information can be provided to the customers such as order status, product availability and shipping dates. Demand Management: It is very crucial to maintain a fair balance between customers’ needs and organization’s capabilities (Huang et al. 2014). This process is related to the forecasting process including procurement, production, and distribution. Order Fulfillment: It is the key factor to make any supply chain management successful. Customers are the biggest asset if any organization and their needs should be prioritized at first. This process deals with manufacturing, marketing requirements and logistic operations (Mokasdar et al. 2014). These can help to meet the customer requirements by reducing the delivering cost to the consumers. Manufacturing Management: This is concerned with the product markings and its distribution over the network. It begins with team reviewing where marketing and corporate strategies are reviewed (Zhou et al. 2014). This will help to incorporate new technologies which are necessary for better operational flow.   Supplier Relationship Management: Suppliers are the ones who can give best quality aircraft products to the organization. Through this, the organization will be able to strategize the sourcing and manufacturing plans and can identify the service components which are crucial to making best aircraft system.   Product Development: Reviewing the sources and strategies is a major part to offer a new quality of products and services to the customers. This is very crucial to maintain customers’ loyalty. Return Investment: It is the last but most important part of the supply chain management process (Hou et al. 2014). This is very helpful to gain competitive advantages for the organization by reviewing the legal and environmental compliance guidelines. After reviewing the supply chain strategies of the Airbus Company, some of the challenges are identified which are described as follows In the manufactured products of Airbus organization proper security standards are missing (Cousins et al. 2015). This creates a negative impact on the customer confidence as well as brand reputation. Day to day increase in the fuel price creates negative impacts on the economic performance of the organization. More dependency on the external suppliers can reduce the competitive strengths of the organization in the global market. The absence of proper R&D standard products and lack of environmental standards in the aircraft system can increase the environmental pollution (Lawson et al. 2015). New entries in the market can challenge the organization from technical as well as quality front ends. (Source: Petersen et al. 2015, pp-15) Supply chain management is concerned with the flow of information and products among the members of the supply chain. Information technology also plays the vital role in relation to the supply chain management. There is no exception with Airbus in this case (Handfield et al. 2015). Airbus examined that, information, which is the main element in the case of the supply chain management is most of the time overlooked by the members of the supply chain. The infrastructure and capabilities of the IT provide aggressive positioning of the business initiatives: cycle implementation, cycle time reduction, etc. Airbus follows three core ideologies for implementation of the IT infrastructure in the value chain: making the customer satisfied, management of the information among the value chain, setting up new IT infrastructure for handling the information in the better way (Turner et al. 2014). Airbus introduces the elements of the IT infrastructure for the developing the supply chain within the organization: input-output devices, media for storage, software and hardware support for the maintenance system, etc. An unmanaged supply chain is not intrinsically stable. The variation in demands of the customers increases, when one rise in the supply chain. Small changes in the customer demands will make the variation on the orders placed. Ultimately the network of the industry will oscillate in a large range (Woodward et al. 2014). This happens because the problems within the organization get reduced by the from the perspective of the supply chain management. This phenomenon is known as the Bullwhip Effect. Aerospace industry also faces this issue like other industries. The main reasons for the Bullwhip effects are: overreaction to the backlogs, inventory reduction for the neglecting the orders, lack of communication for making the supply chain down, coordination problem, delay time introduces by material flow, matching of the orders, inaccuracies of the demand forecasting (Madenas et al. 2014). The above mentioned factors are also maintained by the Airbus. The Airbus is aware of managing the ef fect of Bullwhip within the organization, which improvise their competitiveness. Table 2: Forecasting Of Airbus Organization (Source: Aung and Chang 2014, pp-180) According to the statistics presented in the above table, it can be said that in the next 20 years, this organization will provide its aviation services will be served to many customers all over the world. People from all over the world can have access to the flying services both physically and economically. From 2015 to 2034, all total 32,600 aircraft products will be delivered to the customers with larger aircraft including A350, A330, and A380. (Source: Subramanian and Gunasekaran 2015, pp-220) Managers of Airbus organization should adopt the supply chain metric process to measure the complexity lies in the sourcing ad management platforms of the company. Supply Chain Metrics is very useful to capture the performance lack across the supply chain. In order to determine the relationship between chain performance and corporate performance, supply chain metrics is very crucial, as it can align the organizational logistic operations with new model implementations (Huang et al. 2014). As a result, company's growth can be increased regarding larger revenue growth. The upstream and downstream process of Airbus organization is as follows Figure 5: Upstream and Downstream Process of Airbus (Source: Golicic and Davis 2012, pp-180) In the upstream process, the aircraft product manufacturers take the raw materials from the suppliers before delivering it to the customer. In the downstream process, products are properly manufactured to be provided to the customers. After evaluating the current supply chain operation of Airbus organization, implementation of SCRM inside the organization is very necessary to mitigate the challenges from the grass root level (Musa et al. 2012). Figure 5: Supply Chain Risk Management (Source: Abubakar et al. 2012, pp-200) The SCRM model is very helpful to analyze the internal and external constraints in order to improve the undeveloped areas of the organization. At first, the risk is identified, then it is evaluated and at last, some best solutions are found out to mitigate these problems. According to the research done on the developmental perspective of the aerospace industry, it is noted that there is a huge growth opportunity for the aerospace industry if the OEMs improve the supply needs for accomplishing the customer needs. On this aspect, new supply chain management model is proposed for Airbus organization to mitigate its internal as well as external challenges. This model can help the organization to provide the best quality of products and services to the customers by reviewing all the marketing and corporate strategies. In turn, this will help to improve the current situation of the organization in an advanced way.    Alfalla-Luque, R., Medina-Lopez, C. and Schrage, H., 2013. A study of supply chain integration in the aeronautics sector.  Production Planning & Control,  24(8-9), pp.769-784. Aung, M.M. and Chang, Y.S., 2014. Traceability in a food supply chain: Safety and quality perspectives.  Food control,  39, pp.172-184. Fayezi, S., O'Loughlin, A. and Zutshi, A., 2012. Agency theory and supply chain management: a structured literature review.  Supply chain management: an international journal,  17(5), pp.556-570. Golicic, S.L. and Davis, D.F., 2012. Implementing mixed methods research in supply chain management.  International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management,  42(8/9), pp.726-741. Gopalakrishnan, K., Yusuf, Y.Y., Musa, A., Abubakar, T. and Ambursa, H.M., 2012. Sustainable supply chain management: A case study of British Aerospace (BAe) Systems.  International Journal of Production Economics,140(1), pp.193-203. Handfield, R.B., Cousins, P.D., Lawson, B. and Petersen, K.J., 2015. How Can Supply Management Really Improve Performance? A Knowledgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Based Model of Alignment Capabilities.  Journal of Supply Chain Management,51(3), pp.3-17. Khajavi, S.H., Partanen, J. and Holmstrà ¶m, J., 2014. Additive manufacturing in the spare parts supply chain.  Computers in Industry,  65(1), pp.50-63. Lavastre, O., Gunasekaran, A. and Spalanzani, A., 2014. Effect of firm characteristics, supplier relationships and techniques used on supply chain risk management (SCRM): an empirical investigation on French industrial firms.  International Journal of Production Research,  52(11), pp.3381-3403. Lengnick-Hall, M.L., Lengnick-Hall, C.A. and Rigsbee, C.M., 2013. Strategic human resource management and supply chain orientation.  Human Resource Management Review,  23(4), pp.366-377. Liu, P., Huang, S.H., Mokasdar, A., Zhou, H. and Hou, L., 2014. The impact of additive manufacturing in the aircraft spare parts supply chain: supply chain operation reference (scor) model based analysis.  Production Planning & Control,  25(13-14), pp.1169-1181. Liu, S., Kasturiratne, D. and Moizer, J., 2012. A hub-and-spoke model for multi-dimensional integration of green marketing and sustainable supply chain management.  Industrial Marketing Management,  41(4), pp.581-588. Madenas, N., Tiwari, A., Turner, C.J. and Woodward, J., 2014. Information flow in supply chain management: A review across the product lifecycle.CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology,  7(4), pp.335-346. Martà ­nez-Jurado, P.J. and Moyano-Fuentes, J., 2014. Lean management, supply chain management and sustainability: a literature review.  Journal of Cleaner Production,  85, pp.134-150. Mena, C., Humphries, A. and Choi, T.Y., 2013. Toward a Theory of Multià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Tier Supply Chain Management.  Journal of Supply Chain Management,  49(2), pp.58-77. Narasimhan, R., Narayanan, S. and Srinivasan, R., 2013. An investigation of justice in supply chain relationships and their performance impact.  Journal of Operations Management,  31(5), pp.236-247. Subramanian, N. and Gunasekaran, A., 2015. Cleaner supply-chain management practices for twenty-first-century organizational competitiveness: Practice-performance framework and research propositions.  International Journal of Production Economics,  164, pp.216-233.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Supreme court ( political science) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Supreme court ( political science) - Essay Example The founders, knowing that a sovereign judiciary system was vital to the success of a democratic nation, ensured that federal judges would be appointed for life terms. They can be removed from the bench only if impeached and convicted by Congress of ‘Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.’ The current configuration of eight justices and one chief justice was formed in 1869. Congress assigned drafting rules of federal procedure to the Supreme Court in 1934. Republican Presidents appointed seven of the nine current Supreme Court judges (Gill, 2005). The Supreme Court begins each term on the first Monday of October which lasts until late June. The Term is divided between alternating periods of sittings and recesses which alternate at approximately two-week intervals. Sittings are when the Justices hear cases and deliver opinions and during the intervening recesses, they consider matters brought before the Court and write legal opinions. During court proceedings, each side is allowed 30 minutes argument and as many as 24 cases may be heard during one sitting. There is no jury and no witnesses are presented because most of the cases entail the assessment of a lower court decision. The Court is provided the record of each case and papers which include the arguments of each party. During the recess phase, the Justices study the cases and write their opinions. The Justices must also assess more than 130 petitions every week to ascertain which cases are to be granted a court hearing. Public sessions are held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday when the Court is in session (sitting). The Justices meet to discuss and vote on petitions for review and to discuss cases on Fridays during preceding argument weeks. Prior to hearing oral argument when the Court is in session, other business of the Court is performed. This includes, on Monday mornings, the

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Popular Music in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Popular Music in America - Essay Example Over the years, music instruments have gradually become more technology oriented and digital music production has gained prominence, today there are several genres of music such as rap (partly), techno and house music where the beats are exclusively generated by computers. The rapidly growing power or sound producing devices coupled with their increasing affordability has facilitated the separation of instruments in to categories such as controller and synthesizers.   The implication herein is that today one does not need to have a wide array of instruments such a pianos, guitars harmonicas and others so as to produce music. With a simple personal computer installed with the latest music generating software many of which are available for cheaply if not freely online, one can actually create musical beats with much less the same dynamism that could be achieved by using the convectional tools. The Android app store also allows users to download a variety of virtual instruments such as keyboards and guitars, while the concept is still new and not very well developed, several musicians have actually produced whole songs though their smartphones using this downloadable instruments. Before the 70’s music had to be recorded either on low quality tape recorders or very big an expensive reel to reel machines, the latter were however exclusively for the use of professional studio or rich musicians owing to their prohibitive costs.   Gradually, technology allowed the studio to be simplified.... The rapidly growing power or sound producing devices coupled with their increasing affordability has facilitated the separation of instruments in to categories such as controller and synthesizers. The implication herein is that today one does not need to have a wide array of instruments such a pianos, guitars harmonicas and others so as to produce music. With a simple personal computer installed with the latest music generating software many of which are available for cheaply if not freely online, one can actually create musical beats with much less the same dynamism that could be achieved by using the convectional tools. The Android app store also allows users to download a variety of virtual instruments such as keyboards and guitars, while the concept is still new and not very well developed, several musicians have actually produced whole songs though their smartphones using this downloadable instruments. Before the 70’s music had to be recorded either on low quality tape re corders or very big an expensive reel to reel machines, the latter were however exclusively for the use of professional studio or rich musicians owing to their prohibitive costs. Gradually, technology allowed the studio to be simplified in the late 70s with a portastudio with multitrack tape recorders, which became widely available, and affordable, later digital recorders supplanted the analogue audio devices.3 The digital audio workstations have with time morphed and been condensed eliminating all the extra hardware and today for non-professional recording, one only needs a personal computer with a high quality sound card, hardware audio interface and editing software such as Adour and pro tools. Despite the fact that professional

The language and use of AUPs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The language and use of AUPs - Assignment Example In the following parts of this paper, usage reasons, such as detection of abuse, appropriate usage of technology and liability protection, have been detailed and discussed as well. It is followed by a description pertaining to international boundary, highlighting risk and complexity involved in detecting and preventing cyber crimes. Before the paper conclusion part, legitimate uses of AUPs with an example have been included. Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP) refers to a set of policies that control and restrict access and usage of networks, systems, websites and information as well (Johnson, 2014). These are policies in which a range of user classifications, type of access, level of access, time of access and all those policy guidelines are provided which are highly essential for the related users. Additionally, policies not only highlight the given or provided accesses to the users but also stipulate restrictions which cannot and should not be violated by the users. Furthermore, the provided policies cannot be specified in a number of pages as they are developed by taking into account organisational factors, user requirements, legal and business framework in which the organisation operates; consequently, it can be deduced that the AUPs can be a long list of activities reflecting both dos and don’ts as well (Horwitz, 2003). In other words, it can be highlighted that general requirements or policies c annot be provided in the AUPs but only specific policies can be developed and that must be in cognizance with the related regulatory framework. For example, it is not possible for a Business 2 Business entity to develop an AUP by keeping in view the business model of Business 2 Customer entity because it will not be feasible and practical for the organisation to implement the AUP. Restrictions can be practically applied through enabling and

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Pre-Proposal Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pre- - Research Proposal Example The project will aim at educate students through training programs and environmental campaigns. Various environmental topics such as waste management and energy conservation will be focused on. The target of the project will be to plant 500 tree seedlings and to educate more than 5000 students. Different varieties of trees will be planted. The trainings will be facilitated by experts in the field of environment and will target 50 students per training session. Facilitators will only focus on environmental issues. Trainings will enhance environmental sustainability since students will be able to apply what they will learn. Concerning campaigns, two campaigns will be conducted each month. The campaigns are expected to bring various benefits to the population of Arizona. For instance, they will change students’ perceptions on various environmental issues as well as enhance students’ commitment towards practices that enhance environmental protection. The project will aim at utilizing the efforts of volunteers to ensure the outlined activities are implemented in an efficient and timely manner. Themes of the campaigns will incorporate issues to do with waste management and energy conservation. The project will positively impact sustainability at the university through enhancing environmental awareness and conservation as well as promoting environmental unity. 2. Stakeholders: Different groups of people will aid in the implementation process of this project. They will contribute to its success either directly or indirectly. The first group of people will be the board members of the University of Arizona. They will support the project through decision making. They will provide consent for implementation of various project activities. They will also decide where trees will be planted. The input of lecturers from the School of Natural Resources and Environment, as

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Global Financial Crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Global Financial Crisis - Research Paper Example (Avgouleas, 2008). In addition other major investment banks such as Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, UBS, and JPMorgan have all announced negative earnings in their last financial reports as well as plans to lay off a significant number of workers. This paper carries out a comparative review of how the credit crunch affected Northern Rock in the UK and other major United Kingdom based bank. These other banks include, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Halifax Bank of Scotland and Bradford and Bingley. The first part of the paper provides an overview of the current financial crisis stressing on what caused the crisis. The second part looks at the different business models of these institutions, their risk management strategies, control procedures put in place following the crisis. Section 3 looks at the regulatory environment of both banks; the liquidity position, debt to equity ratio and the financial positions of the company. The last section provides conclusion and recommendation. Sub-prime loans are loans offered to borrowers with no prior track record of good credit history. (Shaffer and Hoover, 2007). Due to the risk inherent in the loans, they are often issued at very high interest rates so as to compensate for the extra risk that they carry. (Shaffer and Hoover, 2007). A sub-prime crises or credit crunch is said to exist when a significant number of sub-prime loans have been issued to unscrupulous borrowers. (Shaffer and Hoover, 2007). These crises pose difficulties to both financial institutions and the borrowers. The outbreak of the recent sub-prime crises came after warning signals of write-downs in the value of mortgages late last year. (Schumer and Maloney, 2008). House prices in the U.S witnessed an unusual growth between 1997 and 2005. For example, prices increased by approximately 85% during this period. The period 2001 and 2005 witnessed the highest rates of appreciation. (Schumer and Maloney, 2007). Sub-prime delinquencies and foreclosures were therefore mitigated by house price appreciations during these years. This is so because borrowers facing difficulties to make regular mortgage payments could depend on the appreciation of the value of their property to solve their financial problems by refinancing the mortgage and withdrawing cash from the increased equity in the house thereby sustaining the new mortgage for a while. However, house prices began to decline in 2006, and as at October 2007, prices were down by approximately

Monday, September 23, 2019

Discuss the relationship between modes of production (foraging, Essay

Discuss the relationship between modes of production (foraging, pastoralism, horticulture, agriculture and industry) and gender - Essay Example Some women, therefore, have endured a lot of difficulties and have performed different duties that include fetching water in rivers and dams that are far from their homes. Some take the sole responsibilities to feed the families despite having husbands. Some societies overburden certain gender, for example, with the pastoralists; the young men travel very far to graze the livestock’s while their fathers just stay behind to just rest and sleep at home. O’Hara (278) puts across that women seem to be at bar with men when they share duties with them. In most societies, men’s and women’s duties and responsibilities are strictly defined and one gender can’t undertake the task assigned to the other gender. Women duties are strictly women duties and the same is fair about men’s role. It used to be seen in both America and Europe that it is natural for women to be taking care of homes and caring for the children while men are the breadwinners of the f amily, that is how their cultures define gender roles (Brettell and Sargent 120). With the background of United States and Europe being industrial nations, men perform the difficult task of running the industries. Men are involved in manual activities that include running of the industries (Brettell and Sargent 121). ... Therefore, women were subordinate to women. With such situation, women suffer a lot because, even if their husbands abuse them, they have little options due to their dependency (Brettell and Sargent 120). In these societies of Europe and America that are predominantly agriculturally industrial, there was certain gender inequality; men were paid more for the same job which the woman did. Women also hold positions that are low with men taking the positions of managers and directors within industries. With men dominating having the decision making vote in these industries, they did little to fight for the rights of women. According to Brettell and Sargent (119) in their book titled â€Å"Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective†, in spite of gender inequality such industrial countries have been labeled as the most egalitarian of human societies. Brettell and Sargent (120) break down four reasons for this division of labor: the variability in the supply of game, different skills requi red for hunting and gathering, incompatibility between carrying burdens and hunting, and small size of semi-nomadic foraging populations. According to O’Hara (278), both men and women in foraging societies enjoy equal status because women gathering contribute huge portion of family diet while hunting is sometimes not reliable. The gathering role taken by women helped elevate the status of the women in these societies. But according to Brettell and Sargent (120), in the societies that hunt and fish, the status of women is low. In fact among these societies, the role is not clearly defined according to O’Hara book. There are therefore several instances where women and men hunt and gather together taking the society to a notch higher in

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Hrm Ulrichs Model Essay Example for Free

Hrm Ulrichs Model Essay ?Briefly describe the major features you would expect to find in an HR function which has adopted the Ulrich Model as the basis for its structure. The HR model as defined by Ulrich (1997) states that HR function should be: 1. Strategic Partners: Sit at the managerial table and contribute to the organisations strategy and alignment of HR strategy. Communicates efficiently with line management. Understands the business environment and drives key business processes and activities 2. Change Agents: Support, facilitate and initiate change, act as a stabilising force for employees in times of change 3. Employee Champions: Takes action to protect the interests and well being of the employees and ensuring they are the voice of the employee. 4. Administrative Experts: Ensures polices and procedures are up to date, they are legally compliant and have the ability to deliver innovative HR practices in HR recruitment, employee development and communication In the 1990’s Dave Ulrich moved to the three legged stool model for the organisation of the HR Function, this provided Centres of excellence This is a HR unit or an outsourced facility that provides HR services to a number of parties within the organisation. HR experts provide high level advice and solutions on key services and hr activities such as training and development, recruitment, reward and employee relations. Strategic Business Partners Senior HR Managers work closely with business leaders and line managers to contribute to the overall organisations strategy and align with HR strategy. They understand the business environment and drive key business processes and activities. HRM are expected to be creative Shared Services centres Large organisations provide a centralised HR function which deliver routine HR administration such as payroll, recruitment administration or absence monitoring.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Honda Motor Company Limited Commerce Essay

Honda Motor Company Limited Commerce Essay Sun Zis Art of War is the most famous work on military operations in ancient China. Being the oldest military treatise in the world, it is one of the greatest cultural legacies of the Chinese nation. Sun Zis Art of War is a classic on military operations and the most influential in the world today. In this well-known book, Sun Wu puts forward many important principles in military operations. He says, Winning a victory and subduing the enemy without fighting is the highest excellence. War is not for slaughter; if you win without fighting, the way you can do so is the greatest military strategy, Sun Wu in his book stresses, To attack where the enemy is unprepared and hit when it is unexpected is another wise observation. Military operations should aim at speedy victory and not prolonged campaigns. Know both the enemy and yourself; you will fight a hundred battles without danger of defeat. All these principles are, unquestionably, significant even in military strategies in the world today. The thirteen military essays in The Art of War form a systematic military work. Each essay discusses one problem, but thirteen essays constitute an organic whole, which can never be taken separately. The Art of War actually discusses how to win, which is not limited to military operations. Its significance has been enlarged to many fields, such as commercial affairs, management, athletic competitions, etc. Everyone who reads it carefully may acquire the key to victory (Wee, 2003). Honda Motor Company Limited established by Soichiro Honda who was a legendary man in the Japanese motor industry. He was a dreamer, he dreamed of a better way of making piston rings, founded a small company, and began production. He dreamed of giving people everywhere an economical form of transportation, and began producing small motorcycles, including one built in 1949 called the D-Type Dream (Honda Motor Comapny Ltd, 2012). Honda Motor Company is by far the worlds biggest motorcycle maker. Hondas first motorcycle was born out of necessity in immediate post World War II Japan, where public transportation was desperately overcrowded and gasoline severely restricted. Soichiro Honda started Honda Motor Company in 1948, at the age of 41. Soon after he hooked up with financial whiz Takeo Fujisawa and together they built an empire. Two owners of the company had different priorities. For Fujisawa, the engine innovation meant increased sales and easier access to financing. For Honda, the higher horsepower engine opened the possibility of more successfully pursuing his motorcycle racing ambitions. Indeed, winning provided the ultimate confirmation of his design abilities. Success came quickly, and by the end of the 1950s Honda had won all of the most prestigious motorcycle racing prizes in the world. In 1958 the Honda 50cc Super Cub was introduced. It featured an automatic clutch, three-speed transmission, automatic starter, and the safe, friendly look of a bicycle. Its inexpensive price was due almost entirely to its high-horsepower, yet lightweight 50cc engine. The success of the Super Cub in Japan prompted Honda to consider expanding its target market to other geographic regions. The company had already experimented with local Southeast Asian markets in 1957 and 1958, however, with little success. The European market, while larger, was heavily dominated by its own name brand manufacturers, and their popular mopeds dominated the low price, low horsepower market. Thus, Fujisawa decided to focus Hondas attention on the U.S. market. In 1962 this breakthrough advertising You meet the nicest people on a Honda shattered the myth that motorcycles were only for tough guys and rebels. It reached out and made Honda and motorcycling in general, appealing to everyone. in 1967 it diversified and also began to produce cars and trucks. In addition, the company started to manufacture portable generators, power tillers, lawn mowers, pumps, and outboard motors. In 1967 and 1968 the company introduced two lightweight passenger cars which performed poorly in both the Japanese and U.S. markets. It was not until 1973 and the introduction of the Honda Civic that the company became a real presence on the international automobile market (Honda Motor Company Limited History, 2012). Three years later, in 1976, as sales of the Honda Civic surpassed the one million mark, the company introduced an upscale, higher priced model named the Accord. Sales of the Accord grew rapidly, not only in Japan, but especially in the United States. In 1982, as a result of the burgeoning U.S. market for Japanese carsIn 1986, Honda introduced the Acura, which immediately garnered large sales throughout Japan and the United States. By the end of the 1980s, Honda had developed into one of the leading car manufacturers in the world. After Soichiro Honda died in 1991, the company initiated a comprehensive reorganization, led by Nobuhiko Kawamoto, the companys president and chief executive officer. in 1992 Honda organized the first ever joint venture to make motorcycles in China. Many industry analysts predicted that the agreement would give Honda an initial foothold in what could become the worlds largest and most motorcycle market lucrative. In order to compete in the tough automobile industry environment, Honda focused much of its attention on research and development. In 1994 and 1996, Hondas experiments with alternative power sources for automobiles and a U.S.-made large-size custom motorcycle led the company to win the worlds largest Solar Car racethe World Solar Challengewith its Honda Dream. In 1997 alone, new production lines of different Honda products were started in India, Vietnam, Turkey, Indonesia, and Brazil. In 1998 Honda once again signed a joint venture agreement in Chinathis time to produce and sell cars. Honda was doing quite well but still had weaknesses to surmount. It had come to be known as one of the most efficient car companies in the world. Its strengths were in its research and development know-how, its high level of technological advances, and its global reachHonda was selling markedly more units abroad than in its own country. Civic and Accord model are the most successful product in Honda company 2. Content Sun Zi Art of War is a short book which contains about only 6200 words written in classical Chinese and has 13 chapters. All the principles and concepts of Sun Zi Art of War can be apply into warfare and modern business strategies today. In this assignment, topics that we selected are chapter 3 Strategic Attack, chapter 4 Disposition of the Army, chapter 5 Forces and chapter 8 Variations and adaptability. Chapter 1: Planning Sun Zi Art of War stated that on every war must have studied and examined thoroughly as it is a matter of life and death. In order to do so, there are five factors in planning which contains moral influence, the weather, terrain, generalship, and doctrine and law. These factors enable Maxis Communication Berhad to compare against their competitors such as DiGi, Celcom, U-mobile as in to understand the changing condition and circumstances and assess the victory in the sales over them. There are 7 important consideration should held in the planning process of Maxis in order to enable them to have competitive advantages their competitors. As in planning, there are 12 guidance of strategic planning that could have been held by Maxis over gaining competitive advantages or gain more profit on their product over other telecommunication provider. Sunzi emphasis on the importance of detailed planning in order for Maxis to gain victory over other in the term of sales and goodwill of the teleco mmunication industry. Chapter 3 Strategic Attack In this chapter, Sun Zi said: capturing a whole division intact is a better strategy; destroying it is a weaker option. capturing a whole battalion intact is a better strategy; destroying it is a weaker option. capturing an entire company intact is a better strategy; destroying it is a weaker option. capturing an entire section intact is a better strategy; destroying it is a weaker option. For business application, an organization has to adapt their culture when they enter into new market or invented a new product. Then, organization has to analyse their consumers need and it will be easier to succeed because the products invented are adapt to the customers culture, environments and needs. Besides, organization can save a lot of costs, they doesnt waste more capital in advertising on promotion. However, they have to make sure that the origin elements are maintained. For example, KFC has just introduced a new Flaming Crunch chicken which suited Malaysian taste. This flaming crunch chicken is coated with crunchy cornflakes and some spicy powder. As we all know most of the Malaysians like spicy food such as nasi lemak or curry. Thus, this new flaming crunch chicken meets the needs of Malaysian who like spicy food. Chapter 4 Disposition of the Army This chapter stated that those who were skilful in warfare ensued that they would not be defeated and then waited for opportunities to defeat the enemy. The ability to prevent defeat depends on oneself, while the opportunity for victory depends on the enemy. When the opportunity arrived, all advantages factors are well prepared like financial and material support, just a button, organization can make extremely profit and easier to penetrate the market. Ball is in your hand, can fun play. For example, Apple Inc has become the market leader, control all factors like pricing, products, promotion, policy and place even if Apple Inc was not the first mover for multimedia downloader. It said one does not make mistakes because he adopts measures, policies and strategies that are certain to lead to victory. He wins because he chooses to engage an enemy that is already in a position of defeat. People who are the most successful are who will predict the future, create the market and to realize the prediction. For example, the diamond multimedia is the first mover for multimedia downloader but the timing is not matured, they never predict their future properly and do not have good policies or strategies to create the market. Few years later, Apple Inc produces the same technology products such as iPod. It is more famous as compared to diamond multimedia. It shows that Apple Inc create the trend which bring the organization growth and maximize the organisation profit. However, follow the trend will only give opportunity to the organization but not profit. Chapter 5 Forces Chapter 5 stated that the fact that the whole army can withstand the attacks of the enemy without suffering any defeats is due to the use of the direct and indirect strategies, forces and approaches. When forces are concentrated to attack the enemy, it must be like solid stones hurled against eggs. This is applying the principle of using strengths to strike weaknesses. For business application, organizations have to be creative and innovative so that they can compete with their competitors. They have to change process happen, change their form, culture, structure or product base when it is needed for them to do so. You must breaks the eggs on beach and create a new life in the sea. For example, Starbucks coffee leads the industry with it continuous menu innovation and a wider choice of drinks than any other brand. Recently, everyone is crazy for Chatime, Ochado or Gong Cha which all of them are Taiwanese pearl milk tea. You can see people queue up even if the queue is very long, stil l people wait for it just for that cup of pearl milk tea. To change, we can see Starbucks coffee introducing the Green Tea with Red Bean Frappuccino and Hojicha with Tea Jelly Frappuccino to follow the trend. Thus, this indirect forces used by Starbucks coffee are tactics to surprise their competitors and consumers. Moreover, this can help to solve their problem and pull back their customers. In this chapter, it also stated that entice the enemy by giving away something that he would certainly want to have. Lure the enemy to move with benefits that he desires and then use concealed troops to await and ambush them. For business application, when the enemy is greedy for small advantages, offer baits to lure him. As we all know greedy is one of the human natural instincts. For example, AEON members day has a lots of things are discount up to 70%. Thus, consumer will be greedy for the small advantages, just to get the discount they have actually spent on things that they dont really need. Therefore, the consequence is they have spent more for that particular month or over budget. Chapter 8 Variations and adaptability This chapter is about the importance of being adapting to changing, importance of careful deliberations and preparedness. The world is constantly changing, we need to adapt to this change quickly. The quicker you let go the past, the sooner you can enjoy you happiness. This means that the faster you adapt to change and follow the trend, the faster you can enjoy earning your profit. There are few examples that we can see in our daily life. First, there is a new concept of Kopitiam has been experienced rapid growth over the past few years. These new concept of Kopitiam included Old Town White Coffee, Pak Hailam Kopitiam, Georgetown White Coffee and many more. Just for a short period of time, Old Town White Coffee has over 130 outlets in Malaysia. Soon or later we will hardly find those old style kopitiam. Another example is the sundry shops, as we can see grocery shops have been replaced by all those convenient stores like 7-eleven, 99speedmart; supermarkets and hypermarkets like Aeon, Tesco, Carrefour or Econsave. All these convenient stores or hypermarkets offer wider range of products and cheaper price. For example, we can buy everything we need in Aeon, we can buy clothes, electronic products, vegetables or other daily consumer products at one go. We need not to travel here and there to get what we want. In addition, we can see the advance of the technologies nowadays. Everyone is using Smartphone or smart TV. Samsung has come out their brand new smart phone Galaxy S3, they keep on innovate their products to fulfilled the consumer needs and wants. Furthermore, it leads Samsung to be the leader of the markets. At the same time, this new technologies bring an opportunity to the telecommunication companies to come out with data plan to boost their profits up. To be winner of the market, these telecommunication companies have to review their plans frequently to stay competitive in the market. Lastly, proactiveness is the key to strategic advantage. Nowadays, people like convenience and easy job. Therefore, the new concept of wall paper has been invented by Korea and Taiwan to replace paint. We can customize our own wall paper; you can have your own favourite colour, taste or picture. With this invention, we can save our time, cost and energy; no more pain. Chapter 10: Terrain In this chapter, Sun Zis explain the grounds during the war. Type of grounds are communication ground, entrapping ground, indifferent group, constricted ground, key ground and distant ground. Every ground has its own function during the war. In business application, Maxis Sdn Bhd encounters obstacles in competing against their competitors. It is said that the top management is responsible for the lower management performance. Therefore, the top management holds a great responsibility in Maxis, like a general does. Senior director is responsible to organize an effective strategy to gain victory in the business war. The strategy will be exercise by the middle management to order the lower management in implementing the strategy in Maxis business process. Chapter 13: Intelligence and espionage In Chapter 13, we discuss about intelligence and espionage. According to Sun Zi, there are five types of spies and secret agents. They are living agents, local agents, inside agents, double agents and doomed agents. We discuss about the ability of the agent to gather and effectively use information on the enemy on the enemy. Thus, Maxis Berhad may send its employees to do research on competitors by obtaining information through reliable sources. For example, annual reports, stock warrants, news feed and press conference. This may help Maxis Berhad to gain informative and useful information to analyze its strengths and weaknesses of itself in order to gain competitive advantage over the competitors. Q3. DISCUSSION Chapter 3 Strategic Attacks Sun Zi said: In general, when waging war, capturing a whole nation intact is a better strategy; to shatter and ruin it is a weaker option. Honda motor has to come out with different strategy and method in facing different challenges among competitors in order to compete in car and motorcycle industry. In 2001, American Hondas associate learning and organizational development group that undertook a broad assessment of its approach to training, looking at what was offered, why, to whom and how. One focus of this initiative was to deepen the emphasis on quality, which has long permeated Hondas manufacturing operations, within the internal support and service portions of the organization. The challenge laid out for the development group was to improve and extend the delivery of training for employees, reduce their time away from the job for training, take advantage of expanding technology capabilities and infrastructure and, above all, ensure a tangible transfer of skills that would take internal service quality to an entirely new level. Honda motor also tends to improve their service quality by using a learning management system (LMS) to schedule, administer and track training. The system was applied not only to instructor led offerings but also to pure online training, blended learning and other offerings. Using a customized LMS, Honda employees and their managers learned to define and manage individual training plans as well as enrol in, complete and track their progress courses and curricula through a learner specific Web portal. With LMS, Honda motor able to provide a better service to its customers and win a good reputation among its competitors. Chapter 4 Disposition of the Army Sun Zi said: In ancient times, those who were skilful in warfare ensured that they would not be defeated and then waited for opportunities to defeat the enemy. A good organization must always have a good advance mission and management control to enhance their company strength. Management must always have a well prepare for the organization future development and scoring in the good opportunity arrives thus, organization can make profit on it. Example: Honda Motors company developing abilities and human resource department in their organization which is to provide training to the employees to equip them with necessary skills. Hondas approach to personnel education is based on on-the-job training: building specialized skills and professional capabilities through direct experience. Honda has established on-the-job training programs for each job description, setting qualitative and quantitative targets for the knowledge and skills to be acquired. These programs provide with an opportunity for associates to acquire specialized skills and managerial capabilities while helping supervisors assess and foster the aptitude of the associates they manage. To supplement these on-the-job training programs, Honda also offers off-the-job training designed to provide associates an opportunity to enhance their careers by developing new specialized skills or management capabilities. To support associates who wish to take the initiative to le arn new skills, acquire knowledge, and cultivate themselves in order to fully realize their own potential, Honda offers opportunities for language learning, distance education, and inter-industry exchanges. With this training Honda can enhance their strength of company. Besides that, Sun zi also said that: The ability to prevent defeat depends on oneself, while the opportunity for victory depends on the enemy. The organization must always have a better control on their product pricing, police and place. Furthermore organizations leader also need set a good strategy and market research to take the advantage on the competitors weakness and negligence. Example: In car industry, Honda and Toyota is one of the large competitors of both. Honda and Toyota always have the price differentiate on their product. In 2002 Honda was produce a new model of car which is Honda Civic Dx sedan, the suggested retail price is $13,800 but in the same times Toyota Corolla CE sedan also goes for the market about $13,900. If a buyer they will looking for the product quality and these both cars would have almost same specification, besides that consumer also will compare this two car price. Now the Honda Civic is cheaper than Toyota Corolla. Thus, most of the consumer will make a decision on buying the Honda car. In the case Honda Company was make a good pricing control on their product, Honda was able take a good opportunity to making profit. Chapter 5 Forces According to the study of Sunzi Art of War in chapter 5, which discuss about forces that can be implementing by organizations to face its problem and challenges? Sun Zi said: To manage a large force is similar to managing a small force. So, it is a matter of organization and structure. So, the formations, communications and signals among whole Honda organizations around the world are important to face with challenges. Honda operates in the worldwide market with 134 production facilities in 28 countries and at 31 Research and Development facilities in 15 countries, about 167000 Honda employees and associates serve 23 million customers worldwide annually. So, it is not easy to manage such a large organization. In order to have a better management, Hondas global operations are divided into 6 administrative regions responsible for operating which are Japan, China, North American, Latin  American, Europe and the Middle Near East and  Africa, Asian and Oceania, while hiring and engagi ng the people and philanthropic initiatives locally in the communities that Honda operates. Honda is pushing the independence of their local management and sales operations, at the same time with integrating and forward-looking plan for each region. They operate under the conduct guidelines that help member companies and associates in evaluating and managing risks, complying with laws and regulations, keeping a high level of transparency in operational level, thats all to maximize the worldwide customer satisfaction. In the global business, many top managers still centralize their authority; make most of decisions of  the company. In contrast, Honda follows a different way; most of decisions are made by a group of  responsible persons, including Board of Director, outside directors, outside auditors. Honda decentralizes authority to their associates to maximize the flexibility and diversity in decision making process, and well adapt to the changes of global  market. Making group decision of responsible persons in Honda is extremely effective. The theoretical advantage of this strategy is improving innovation and reducing risk, biased thinking. In fact, this strategic leadership style leads Honda to today success. For instance, the organization of Board of Directors or Board of Auditors includes not only inside companys employees but also external appointees. This feature helps Honda to make the distinction  in global performing and competing. Outside company appointees play the role as su pervising the execution of each board. As the result, the performance of each board becomes effective and efficient rather than organization with entirely inside company employees. By this strategy organizing, the company can ensure that working environment will be fair and strong without dubious cooperation. Honda manages its employees through promoting programs, principles and policies in supporting its organizational human resources. So, when peoples needs are satisfied, they are well motivated, resulting in being eager to contribute more to organization. Honda satisfies not only low  needs (physics, safety, belongings) but also high needs of employees  (esteem and self actualization).  Therefore, Honda is  more effective than a  lot of other companies in motivating people, resulting in efficient,  effective performance of employees and firm as well. Chapter 8 Variations and adaptability Base on chapter 8, it is discussing about the variations and adaptability of a company. This concept is very important because variations and adaptability are the most valuable characteristic of a company. A company that focus on variations will continue to move forward, looking to the future, and know how to shift to fixed current situation successfully. With this characteristic, a company will able to improve their product and services, seeking new opportunities and bringing new things into the market that consumer really need. For example, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami that happen in the year 2011 has forced Honda to halve car production at its  British factory because of a shortage of parts from its homeland. Honda began to implement a strategy of temporary adjustments that reduce daily production levels at its U.S. and Canadian auto plants on March 30 2011 as a result of interruptions in parts supplies from Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. By taking this action, Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) will be able to continue production by utilising HUMs flexible working policy. Pay is maintained for all associates. Once full production is resumed, the reduced volume production will be quickly recovered using the banked hours. Ken Keir, executive vice president of Honda Motor Europe, said: Weve taken the decision to reduce our production volumes at HUM as it enables us to continue with our manufacturing activities, thus minimising the impact on Honda customers, dealers and associ ates. As parts supply stabilises and full production resumes, Honda will quickly develop a production schedule to meet the needs of Hondas European customers, said todays statement. The other example are as Honda motor decision making is decentralized, this will facilitates rapid response to change in two or more environments. For instance, when some changes occur in American market, the local company freely makes decision in order to immediately adapt to the market. Instead of waiting the decision from Parents Company, it has authority to themselves decides, resulting in saving time, cost and reducing risk. Hence, Hondas associates more efficiently and effectively in exchange information  together. The third example is Honda introduced  Air Blade Scooter with functions like sport and fashion model which are more fuel-efficient engine technology in Vietnam on April 2007 to attract the youth in Vietnam because Honda Vietnam has recognise that younger people in Vietnams prefer nice and expensive scooter and fashion accessory. So, Honda Vietnams has come out with idea in producing Air Blade Scooter to fulfil the local demand and it has successfully sold 950000 units after introduce Air Blake Scooter. 4.) Recommendations Sun Zi said: If you can analyze your weaknesses or disadvantage, you can always use your strength to cover it and win in the business games. Analysis is very important to a company. A company will know their strength and weaknesses and opportunities about the new market. So, Honda motor should have the analysis and planning before they introduce a new product to the market. By do the survey and research, Honda can know the needs of the market and can improve the quality of product to make sure the product is fit with the needs of market. This will make the product more successful. As mentioned by Sun Zi, in strategic management, product must be differentiated from other similar products, or you will be spurned. Honda motor should introduce a new product that differentiated with other competitor such as Toyota and Nissan. Honda tends to come out with several ways in improving their weakness and exploit their strength in the market to gain profit and advantages over its competitor. Honda motor should focus on this new product, so when the products come out, it will be very strong compare with its competitors products. The proposal to produce this new product must be confidential; the other competitors must not know the plan of Honda motor. When Honda motor introduces the new product to the market, competitor will dont know how to defend, and the new product can be very successful. Besides that, Honda can become first mover to control the whole market situation and let the competitor to follow Honda motor. Employees are the most important sources of a company. So, Honda motor must have a good communication with the worker, try to understand their situation and satisfy their needs. Besides, Honda motor can provide some training to the employee, so that they can upgrade their skill and knowledge about the technologies. Thus, they can use their knowledge to develop new product and help Honda to gain more advantages. On the other hand, Honda motor also can provides motivation campaign for the employees; this can give the chances to let the manager to interact with employees and improve co-operative between them. Furthermore, the manager can become the role model to the employees; this can motivate the employees to be more productive. Honda motor can give the rewards to the employees that have the well performance. This can maintain the employees performance and increase their motivation. Beside, Honda also can gives the appreciate to all the workers so that the workers can know that their hard work are being appreciated and they will work more hard. This can help the company to run more smoothly. In addition, as mentioned by Sun Zi, The main purpose of the war is to win in the battle and not to prolong the battle. Same with the business, speed is one of the ways to reduce the organization operating cost. Most of the business is selling their SPEED concept for example INTEL, UPS and DHL. So, Honda should decrease the operating time because longer time taken to complete a product, more expenses is needed. When the time for operation is shorter, then productivity of organization is increase and improves their value in the market. Indirectly it will become more competitive advantage for the organization.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Gangs of New York, A Film Analysis :: Film

Bill the Butcher was the ideal "bad guy" for a movie. He was a stubborn individual who would not change his ways of thinking for anyone. If you came off a boat and tried to settle in the United States you were automatically hated by Mr. Cutting. Bill was a tall man, very skinny, and he had long hair with a matching mustache. Bill and his party believed that the only rightful people to have jobs, families, and make money were people who were born in the U.S., not immigrants. Women and children are not even spared by Bill and his rugged party. They hatred for the immigrants was so strong that they would shout profanities at them or hurl rocks at them when they unloaded from the massive ships. At times they would beat an immigrant close to death just because they looked at them the wrong way. Cutting's father installed these beliefs into him, Bill's father was killed in a gang war with the immigrants and he would never live that down. The way the immigrants were treated by some of the townspeople made some of the immigrants become very poor. Shop keepers and other store owners would not hire immigrants mainly because they did not like them and secondly that they did not want to upset Bill and his gang. Immigrants would soon leave New York and look for an easier life but most remained behind and lived in the side streets to fend for food with the rats. This is where thievery came in. Since most of the immigrants were poor they had to learn to steal to survive. "Pick-Pocketing" became the most famous means to steal in the streets of New York. The immigrants who would come off of the boats had no idea what was in store for them as they unloaded their boat. The immigrants were friendly people for the most part, they were not looking for a fight in America just a new start to their life.

The Variety of Feminisms and their Contributions to Gender Equality by

There are many branches of feministic theorems. As Judith Lorber wrote in her article, The Variety of Feminisms and their Contributions to Gender Equality feminist denominations arose from different views, making many contributions to improve women’s status. Lorber discusses the views of, â€Å"gender reform feminisms, gender resistant feminisms, and gender revolution feminisms†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (1) etcetera, all which have fought to improve women’s rights. Though there are many different aspects of viewing feminism, writer and contributor of owl.purdue.edu, Allen Brizee suggests that the main ideology that holds those aspects together is the oppression of women in general. Though, it is when talking about male dominance, women’s resistance, and women’s social roles, that the views on feminism changes. In the book, The Awakening, Kate Chopin greatly reveals women’s resistance within a male dominated society through her main character Edna Pontellier. Si milarly, in her short, The Story of an Hour, Chopin emphasized the oppression that married women went through with their husbands during the late 1800s. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman compelled readers, showing how women’s roles seemed insignificant during the early 1900s. The feminist theory suggested by Brizee can be seen within each of these narratives, and their protagonists. Even to present day, the belief of societies being male-centered still stands. Yet, during the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was clearer that the patriarchal lifestyle was happening. Married women of the era were seen as ‘property’ to their husbands. Robert, Edna’s lover from The Awakening, described her as, â€Å"-not free; you were Mr. Pontellier’s wife. I couldn’t help loving you†¦ so long as I went away from y... ... by her difference from male norms and values.† Sadly many women became exactly what the male powered societies want them to be, because unconsciously, those societies have influenced them to also believe it is the right thing for them to do. Works Cited Brizee, Allen. "Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism. Ed. J. Case Tompkins. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Avon, 1972. Print. Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Logan, IA: Perfection Learning, 2001. Print. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper. New York: Feminist, 1973. Print. Hall, Donald. Literacy and Cultural Theory. Houghton, Mifflin Co. 2001. 199-213. Lorber, Judith. The Variety of Feminisms and their Contribution to Gender Equality. Roxbury Pub. 1998. 1-15.